A YouTuber Explored A Former Bunker In Ukraine And Found Its Nuclear Missile Launch Button

The doctrine of “mutually assured destruction” (MAD) holds that a full-scale nuclear war between two superpowers can never happen because it would result in the total annihilation of both sides. In game theory, this represents a so-called “Nash equilibrium” – a stand-off where no player can gain an advantage by unilaterally changing strategy.

MAD, in fact, was responsible for the world’s most dangerous arms race. For almost 50 years during the Cold War, the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. competed to research, develop and manufacture increasingly sophisticated missiles and warheads. As a result, both powers ultimately acquired massive stockpiles of nuclear weapons.

In theory, however, they could never be used. Well, at least that’s what the world told itself every time political tensions escalated into a crisis. However, the chilling experience of one videographer who explored a former nuclear bunker in Ukraine suggests that MAD is not as foolproof as one might hope.